Just a couple of interesting (to me) details on this one;
I think the owner must have been Hindu. :-)
It is decorated with eleven depictions of the Trisula.
Elgood shows very closely related examples in both "Arms and Armour Of the Jaipur Court" and "Firearms of the Islamic World".
He has the following to say about the Trisula;
"Trisula , from Trident,
Symbol of Siva.
None of the other weapons, -sword, axe, arrow, have a similar ritual significance.
Survivals found from Iron Age burials.
In Greek Tradition, the Trident is the lightning symjbol of Zeus, and this corresponds to the Indian concept of the Vajra / thunderbolt.
Such weapons being invariably missiles.
Indian tridents are held to have great magical power, being capable of overcoming the power of evil."
(Hindu Arms and Ritual, Rb't Elgood.)
Also, the pair of geese/swans on the stock, "Hamsa"
The Hamsa
In Hindu lore, the hamsa (a pair of divine birds) can be either swans or
geese. The two are interchangeable. The word hamsa is a cognate of the Latin anser (goose).
The hamsa lives on Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, from which it migrates to
India in the winter. It is extolled as the king of birds, and said to eat
pearls and be able to separate Soma from water (later milk from water) when the two are mixed.
It trancends creation, because it can fly in the sky, swim in the water, and
walk on the earth. The hamsa represents perfect union, balance and life
(breath and spirit).
In Vedic times, the hamsa was connected with Surya, the sun god. It
signified strength and virility. In the Upanishads, the hamsa acquired more
attributes, symbolizing purity, detachment, divine knowledge, prana (cosmic
breath) and spiritual accomplishment.
The hamsa laid a golden egg on the waters. (This is the same role taken by
the goose in ancient Egypt.) From that egg sprang the god Brahma, the
Creator. In the Upanishads, the hamsa is said to possess the sacred
knowledge of Brahma. Therefore, it symbolizes the elevation of the unformed
toward the Heaven of Knowledge. Brahma is often depicted riding on the hamsa
The hamsa is also used as a symbol of Narayana, an aspect of Vishnu, the
Preserver. In this context, the hamsa is a personification of the soul in
the universe. The flight of the hamsa symbolizes the escape from the cycle
of samsara, rebirth.
Not wanting to read too much into the hamsa on the stock, but I do wonder what which part of the above was significant in the Jaipur court?...., as there are a good few matchlocks surviving (from Jaipur)all with the two birds, (Hamsa) and the trisula.
Not got to the flowers yet, Or the elephant!
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